A mum spent £3,000 renovating the two-bedroom council house she was renting. She estimates that by doing this work herself she has saved around £10,000.
Serene Francis, 26, from Sheffield, started renting a council house in April 2020 and renovated the property to make it feel more like home.
She said the house was in a “deplorable condition” when she moved in, with all the floors plastered, yellow ceilings and peeling wallpaper on the walls.
Ms Serene said she had saved up a lot of money by doing DIY and buying furniture from stores such as B&M Bargains, Primark and Ikea.
Today, the house has been completely transformed from “bad to boujet” and features monochrome modern interiors and decorations.
Serene Francis (pictured) spent £3,000 transforming her council chambers using DIY and bargain items.
Serene, a student midwife and mental health support worker, said: “When we moved in, the house was in a terrible state.”
“It was just wallpaper, the doors were purple, the floors were horrible.
“The previous person who lived here was a smoker, so the ceilings and woodwork were all yellow and the garden was overgrown with grass, it was a real mess.
“We are still renovating the house little by little.
“I saved a lot of money and bought a lot of items from B&M Bargains and Primark.
“I love the home section at H&M, but you can get the same things at B&M Bargains for a fraction of the price.”
Selene has lived in public housing for three years with her three-year-old daughter Indi and her partner.
She said the house had two bedrooms but was classed as three-bed by the council and had gardens to the front and rear.
Selene said the biggest renovation project was the bathroom, but it was worth it.
The mother of one started renting a council house in April 2020 and renovated the property to make it feel more like home
Then a coat of paint and the house already looked much improved
Entrance before and after renovation with white paint, mirrors, and trendy pampas grass added
She pays rent of £370 a month and an additional bedroom tax of £65 a month. After deducting council tax, water, gas, electricity and Wi-Fi, her total monthly bill is £750.
After receiving the keys, she said the house was in perfect condition and needed some care.
she said: She said: “When we moved in, we had to tear everything down. Since we had removed everything, we chose plain white walls for an easy and clean look.
“I started by sprucing up the main room, bedroom and living room.
“We painted the whole house white, put in new flooring, painted the cupboards, added new worktops and completely transformed the kitchen.
“We paneled and loosened the walls throughout the house. We tried to run everything with the same theme.”
Always on the lookout for bargains, Celine didn't have the 'money to throw' into renovations, so she often shopped at cheaper high street brands like Home Bargains.
“The most difficult thing for me was the cost. We didn't have a lot of money to throw at it,” Selene said.
“So, I've been doing it little by little since I moved here, and I still have a little bit left.
Selene breathes new life into what was once a very simple living room (pictured)
The living room has become the perfect place for Selene, her partner, and daughter Indy to relax.
Selene and her daughter Indy. Celene posts on her TikTok with the username @61thecouncilhouse
Selene's house has a front yard and a backyard. The photos are before and after.
Some viewers were left a little confused that she invested so much money in a property without actually owning it.
“I’ve saved a lot of money, I love B&M Bargains and the home section at Primark.
“I think we spent around £150 completely changing the kitchen.”
Selene, who posts on TikTok under the username @61thecouncilhouse, hopes to buy a house someday.
However, some viewers were left a little confused that she invested so much money in the property without actually owning it.
In one video, captioned “POV: You live on the city council but no one can tell,” one person was quick to point out: the current';
“Isn’t BC actually allowed to remove tiles from walls?”;
“What would you do if the owner decided to kick you out?” “I want to tear down the bathroom, but I don't have the money.”
“Girl, after all that you did, why are you renting it???” Brave, brave, yeah.
Celene's says her top tip for anyone starting a renovation project is to have a vision of how you want the property to look overall.
she said: She says, “Before you start, you need to have a plan for how you want your home to look.”
“Have an idea of what you want your home to feel like. You don't have to make every room a different color.
“We want them to flow so that all the rooms blend together and keep the same color throughout.
“I think people should think outside the box and put in things that are unique to their homes, like wainscoting and slatted walls.”